Mucormycosis, Pseudallescheriasis, and Other Uncommon Mold Infections

Abstract

Serious infections due to non-Aspergillus molds are being encountered with increasing frequency. Factors likely responsible for the rise of these infections include aging populations in countries with advanced medical technologies, the resultant increase in incidence of many cancers, increasingly intensive myeloablative therapies for these cancers, increasingly intensive care for critically ill patients, and increases in the frequency of solid organ and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Although diagnostic and therapeutic modalities have improved, mortality rates for invasive mold infections remain high. In this review, we summarize current knowledge about non-Aspergillus mold infections of the chest, with a focus on risk factors, clinical features, diagnosis, and treatment.

The Spectrum of Fungi That Infects Humans

“…Among them are the non-fumigatus species of Aspergillus (Torres et al 2003), Fusarium solanum, Fusarium oxysporum, and other Fusarium spp., and their teleomorph Nectria spp. (Nucci and Anaissie 2007), Pseudoallescheria boydii, and its Scedosporium anamorphs (Quan and Spellberg 2010). Infections with these fungi are often lethal because the hosts they usually infect are incapable of mounting an effective immune response, and because they tend to be more resistant to currently available antifungals.…”

Lung Transplantation for Cystic Fibrosis: Results, Indications, Complications, and Controversies

“…may infect the bronchial anastomosis, 163,182,188,235,236 but invasive pulmonary or disseminated candidiasis is exceedingly rare among LTRs. 188 Serious infections due to Zygomycoses (e.g., Rhizopus, Mucor, Absidia, and Cunninghamella), [237][238][239][240] Fusarium spp., 241,242 Scedosporium, [243][244][245][246][247][248][249][250][251] and other molds 194,238,239,252 may complicate LT (all indications). Given the rarity of these disorders, these will not be further addressed here.…”

The Appearance of Pulmonary Mucormycosis on FDG PET/CT

“…The only definite way to diagnose this infection is to visualize the characteristic hyphae in biopsy tissues and materials such as sputum and exudates. 1 Imaging findings include consolidation, nodules, masses, cavities, lymphadenopathy, and pleural effusion. 2Y7 The prognosis is extremely poor.…”